Edited by: Deimos tommyjl
Giselle was dumbfounded. She kept looking from Lanele to Zariel, and from Zariel back to Lanele a couple of time.
- “Not devoted, you say?” Mavik raised a single brow
- “B-b-b-but! That’s some trick, right? Zari, you heard me a moment ago and simply decided to mock me!”
- “No.” I answered calmly “… we are going to join some Sabbath. That’s the most important event for worshipers of Aria ever! Happens once every thousand or so years. How could I not participate?”
- “But you are not a worshiper! I have literally never seen you praying! On our way here we walked past a few Aira’s altars! Most of them ruined! You didn’t even look at them!”
- “Mostly because I find it pointless to pray. Altars are nothing more than a place of focus for average people. Gives them ideas of unity. After a long time the place would eventually be coated with their faith and become bit magical, but it’s still just a stone table for offerings. Instead of singing I prefer to actually follow her teachings. Live the way she showed us. I hate boring rituals.”
- “… what is the three moons night if not a ritual?” dragoness was still not very convinced
- “You see, I allow myself to participate in such events every once in a while. The next time I do it will be in…. one thousand years, five days and more or less 4 hours. Any more questions to ask?”
- “But!....” Giselle still tried proving her point.
- “Good. Start preparing.”
There was nothing more to say, even though the dragoness still tried to raise her objections against my willingness toward participation. Later I would tell her that the invitation was direct.
I started finishing business I had with certain townsfolk. In the end I reported back quests, getting a few (dozens) of silver coins for my efforts and a few (thousands) of experience points. Then I would just sign papers with the Rosewood trader guild for herbs delivery and sell a few prices of junk from the dungeon that we picked with Giselle. Not that I needed money,but putting it bluntly, a certain dragoness had a little obsession on earning things on her own. A diamond that she found on the road was worth less in her eyes than a copper ring she pulled off the finger of lich she had killed by herself.
Not that she would actually pull the ring off undead’s hand! That shit would be cursed for sure and even she would know about it!... or does she?
What I wanted to say, is that with most of OUR reward from the quests SHE got HERSELF a very pretty golden ring with quite a big sapphire in it. Very well made piece of jewelry, a skilled enchanter could cast high spell on it.
I just hoped she would never find out that I actually had to put a few more coins from my personal alchemy income and then convince the shopkeeper to play along pretending to lower the price from what he was offering to the price that Giselle was willing to pay. For fuck sake, Giselle, no merchant would ever lower the price from 5 gold coins to 1 and 25 silvers.
… But don’t tell her that. She looked so happy to leave the store with merchant pretending to cry for selling such gorgeous ring for pretty much nothing.
That night I couldn’t sleep well, mostly because of what Aira told me by accident, just before her mind decided to update her brain to Windows 10 and shut down. That little kinky goddess was watching me. And not in spiritual sense! She was nothing more than a little pervert! Over and over again I would activate meditation state and “scan” the room with every scouting spell I had.
Not that I believed that goddess could easily avoid detection. All she had to do was to watch me from spirit realm, then I could only spot her by entering trance, or speaking in another way, drugging myself.
Yet, despite my little paranoia, the loving embrace of my dragoness was getting warmer and warmer, and her calm breathing was easing my nerves. All I had to do was to repeat her pace. Inhale, exhale. Eventually, my eyes shut and I drifted into sleep.
The world of dreams and world of spirits are connected, there is a statement that these two are twin worlds being a reflection of each other. When one was about to fall asleep, he was the closer to the spirit realm than any other part of the day.
Why am I mentioning it? Because I could swear, that just before I followed the Morpheus, I could swear I heard a single phrase:
I woke up a second before someone knocked the door.
The problem is, I couldn’t really answer. Giselle, as every single night, somehow managed to tangle her limbs around me, completely crippling my movements. I started a desperate, horrible struggle in order to free myself. Why not just wake her up and ask her to let me go? Good joke. In camps and dungeons Giselle is quite a light-sleeper, you could crack a branch on the other side of planet and she would wake up and ready her sword… but in the guild bed? My theory is that she either rests after all the sleepless nights, or that she actually managed to “store” her sleep - just like camel stores a water in his back, she stores sleep in her ass. That explains the size.
Damn. That was a good one. Will have to repeat it to her face in the future.
Knocking sounded again.
- “Just a moment!” I yelled irritated.
Giselle pouted, purred and tightened her embrace.
A-ha! An opening! As she focused on her arms, her legs gave up a little. I used that split of second to free my waist. Now with half of my body free, rest was a piece of cake.
Another knocking. Someone was getting inpatient.
I was getting up from bed in less than two minutes. New personal record. Would give myself medal for that. Walking toward the door I managed to put some pants, just because it could be awkward to open them being naked.
In next moment I turned the key and put my head outside.
- “What?” I asked in not very pleased tone. Yet as soon as I saw who was on the other side of the door I corrected my behavior “… Oh, pardon me. I meant:
- “Indeed, this language suits you well, primitive…” yes, it was our favorite elf “… I was asked to tell you, that miss Lanele is ready to leave. So, as soon as the two of you would decide to leave…”
- “And you had to do it at…” I gazed over the window to see the position of sun.
Yet I didn’t see it at all. It was still dark
- “Before 5 fucking am? Are you nuts!?”
- “Elfs are usually waking up earlier.”
- “Tell me, rootsucker, can you see pointy ears on me or Giselle? No? So scram! Or not! Wait! If you already woke me up, please, wake up Giselle too!”
I would love to see that. Unfortunately, the elf seem to be a fast learner. He backed off quickly.
- “Thank you, but no, seeing you in nothing but pants was already enough of trauma for me. My poor heart probably wouldn’t withstand such horror again. Just get yourself ready. Lanele prepared some breakfast for your group. She rarely does it, for she is very busy person, so maybe move your ungrateful asses down.”
- “Do I hear envy in your voice?”
He throw me an angry gaze.
- “Yeah. Her dishes are great. I am torn apart, you know? I don’t want you to eat it, but it would be blasphemy for her food to be wasted.”
- “Great. Now, be a nice dog and tell your mistress we are coming. Remember to bark.”
I said slamming the door right in his face.
I looked at still sleeping dragoness. Now, the hard part. Waking up Giselle on her day off before sun rise. But elf gave me something to bargain with.
I bend over still sleeping beauty and purred in her ear.
- “Gis, sweetie, rise and shine…” she answered with displeased moan as she twisted her body to the side, running away from source of noise that wouldn’t let her rest.
- “Giselle… I don’t want to eat alone.”
Her ear twitched twice.
- “You don’t want to? Weird. I wanted to wake you up, because I thought you would want to taste elvish cuisine. Our new friend cooked something and I was told that her food is to die for! Well, I will ask her to keep some leftover, so you would at least know the taste…”
She moved in her bed slightly, yet I knew that this little shiver was a sign of intensive internal battle. Her laziness and everlasting hunger were battling together, like two mad wolves fighting over territory. What would win? Desire to keep resting and sinking into bed, or the need to sink her fangs into juicy meat?
- “You say that the food is ready?” she opened one of her eyes.
- “That son of a bitch was here and told me so.”
- “Can’t you just… bring it to bed? Like yesterday?”
I could. But she doesn’t have to know about it, right? Also, I can’t spoil her all the time, even if I would want to.
- “I think that Lanele wishes to spend some time together. Simply taking the plate and leaving would be impolite and rude.”
She huffed. And puffed. And moaned. And yelled. And then she started getting up from bed. Only two things are certain: Death and Giselle’s hunger. Well, I am still not very convinced about the first one.
We got ourselves ready in next few minutes before we moved down to the inn section.
- “Oh! You came! Sorry for the early hour, but I was so excited about the journey, that I couldn’t sleep, so I walked to the kitchen. And night staff was not there so I allowed myself to start cooking, in the end miss Giselle’s appetite is legendary! I heard you like dishes with meat with extra meat, am I right?” she smiled widely
- “And additional meat. Don’t forget with meat at the top… and bottom.” I added, earning myself another hit with elbow.
- “Lana, you are my angel!” dragoness sat by the table. In that moment you couldn’t ever guess that merely five minutes ago she was dressing complaining how unworthy it was to get up from bed.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Indeed, priestess put in front of her a huge plate with meat pie. Pretty much a pancake with meat, the sauce was dripping from the sides. Face of dragoness was lightened, eyes widened as she was left speechless, for indeed, the meal was quite colossal.
- “And I allowed myself to ask Giselle about your preferences. You are more into sweets, right?”
O-ho-ho! My little petite croissant! You are about to make greatest mistake of your life!
- “I do, but mostly as dessert. You see, sweets are rewards! It needs to be an accent after the meal itself! Also, I like contrast! Sweetness and sourness! Best served with…”
- “Black coffee?”
Her eyes shined and sparkled. She knew she was up to the challenge.
- “Indeed… coffee…”
Damn, this is why elves are best as scouts and agents. Their ability to find information about their targets is truly frightening. I was told in better old days, Syndicate was hiring a couple of elves, criminals wanted by their kingdoms and houses for treachery, manslaughter and other funny, not exactly legal things in exchange for changing their identity. Maybe in the future…
She put a plate in front of me.
- “Not too sophisticated? I tried keeping it simple, but I am afraid that I got carried away!”
She was so proud of herself, but damn, she had a reason to be.
It was… damn.
It was mix of meat and fruit. Is that… no! Where the hell did she find an pineapple?... is that an pineapple at all? I already learned that despite similarities all animals and plants are bit different.
Yet I didn’t see these anywhere. No store sold them.
- “Ah, I see it picked your curiosity! These fruits are hard to get, they are growing on the south, but our priestess managed to create an artificial places in which they are manipulating the environment in order to…”
- “You just made a greenhouse. End of topic. Don’t boast about it as if that was some national treasury, especially if it is already being used by other parties.”
It was time for her eyes to widen in surprise.
- “Which one?”
- “Hm?” I didn’t understand a question.
- “Which parties are using it?”
- “For example? Me.”
- “Pardon me?”
- “I am an alchemist with factory in capital. In basement I am growing plants.”
- “How did you do that?! It took millennia to create a formula for these areas to be self-sustainable!”
- “You are using dragon veins, aren’t you?”
- “Yes.”
- “Idiocity. I mean, yes, you can kill a mosquito with a canon, but it is better so use your boot, isn’t it? Mana veins such as dragon are extremely hard to keep in control, you had to put multiple layer of control spells that would keep the power level in check. You could simply use hexbags, like myself.”
- “They are too weak…”
- “Only if you were to use them as fuel, not the catalyst. I created a closed conduct in which I put my own power. It doesn’t require any outside intervention.”
- “I… I don’t understand! The power used for growth should be consumed…”
- “Well, the basic law of the world is that energy can’t be created or destroyed. It can be only transferred. This law doesn’t really apply to magic but…”
Damn, how to explain the laws of energy loss that was explained on engines? In the process of changing fuel into energy, part of it is wasted. The magic is 100% reusable as it is being emitted by every life form. Also by plants. Simply, energy that was used to grow is later given back to the ether around. But, I changed the hexbags to attract this energy for future use.
- “I am sorry. That’s something that can’t be described during breakfast. I won’t mind sharing knowledge later.”
For a price, of course.
- “I… I see.”
She really looked moved. I was grateful that rest of her group was away. I already imagine what kind of uproar our little conversation would ask.
- “O-oh! But eat! I want to know your opinion!”
She quickly changed subject, yet I knew that she will be reporting it to her mother via communication crystal, maybe even today.
Not that I mind. Maybe that would open paths for the Syndicate to the Kingdom of Elves. Oh, the opportunities..
I raised the fork with her dish to my mouth.
And then I saw the god. The so called allfather. The light shined right on my face and piece of heaven travelled down my throat.
- “As I said… the fruit may be bit too sweet, I was afraid that it may ruin the taste of meat but… Z-zari? Is everything all right? Are you crying?”
- “Lanele.” I looked at her “… Marry me.”
- “WHAT? But…!” She looked toward Giselle
- “Decide quickly, because if you are not going to marry Zariel, then you are marrying me!”
- “Polygamy?” I asked looking toward dragoness
- “It can work.” She nodded.
- “Stop joking! You meanie!”
- “Don’t blame us, your cooking is just too good.” Giselle already finished her breakfast “…Mavik wasn’t lying.”
- “I… I like cooking, but I think you are exaggerating… A-at least not to marry someone!”
- “Yeah. If you ever lie your hands on Zariel, I am going to kill you.”
Oh, she said that so casually. Yet, instead of being intimidated Elf smiled.
- “Now! That’s more like it! Dedication! Passion! Possessiveness!” her eyes sparkled.
- “What with your team? Where are they now?” Giselle decided to change subject
- “Oh, we already parted our ways. They decided to visit few places, so we can leave as soon as you are ready.”
- “Where will be heading? I assume you know where we could join some Sabbath.”
- “The bald mountain!” she said nodding “… and to be precise – the emerald woods. It is a place which only druids can enter… with few exceptions. As next head priestess I am allowed in… Zari, you are a druid yourself, so there should be no problems, but Giselle… well, I think she would be let in if we both asked for it.”
- “Fine, I will just finish eating and we are good to go…” I stabbed the plate with fork once again, just to notice that my dish is no longer there.
Where did it go?
- “But you finished it a minute ago…” Giselle noticed
What. NO! It’s not possible! I just took one bite!... or two. Maybe three? There could be four or them, but no more than five! With the last one that would be six in total...
Fuck.
- “Well, I am already packed and rented a cart, so you can just take your things and…”
- “I AM DRIVING!” Giselle yelled
Oh no!
- “Well, I am fine with that.” Poor, unaware of the situation elf agreed before I managed to rise my objections.
- “No! Please god no! No! NOO!” I cried in terror
- “Come on, she can’t be THAT bad!” Lanele tried to support her friend
- “You are underestimating her!”
Still, Giselle loved driving, despite her terribleness. She wasn’t going to back off, and Lanele in her lack of traumatic experiences, decided to support her. I was outvoted.
We packed our things and moved. It started innocently, first fifty meters or so.
Bumb
- “Sorry!” Giselle yelled from driver place.
- “So it begins.” I whispered to myself
- “Come on, it is just a single rock! You are being too strict!” Lana once again defended her
- “You fool, we are riding for a minute. More is yet to come!”
- “You are exagge…”
Bumb
I raised my brow, yet said nothing.
- “Okay! Two is still a coinc…”
Bumb.
- “Tis just a…!”
Bumb.
Lanele blushed a little and opened her mouth to say something
BUMB-BUMB
She shut her mouth, waited half of a minute before trying to speak again.
BUMB
- “OH COME ON!” Elf lost her patience
- “Told you.”
Once again silver-haired wanted to speak, but she was disturbed yet again, this time not because of Giselle.
- “Why did we stop?” I asked
- “Dunno. Guards have locked the street.”
I groaned, yet jump off the cart coming to group of soldiers that stood in the half of the street.
- “What’s wrong officer?” I asked politely, yet not hiding that I am in hurry.
- “A robbery, attacker is in inside, just wait, civilian, we will be done with it in few minutes. Bastard is equipped with repetitive light crossbows, heavily armored squad in on the way.”
- “We are adventurers, can we help?”
- “Thank you, but no. Everything is under control!”
From the window of the shop some young man quickly gazed on the street before getting back inside. He was probably the attacker.
- “Fuck! How could it go so terribly wrong? Is this real life? Is this just fantasy?”
I heard him cursing.
- “You are caught in the landslide! There is no escape from reality, kid!” the guard mocked him “… come back with hands in the air! Come on kid, there is no reason to die here! Open your eyes! Look up to the sky and see!”
Wait! Is that…
- “I’m just a poor boy, but I need no sympathy! Because I am easy come, easy go! A little high, little low! Anyway the wind blows, doesn’t really matter to me! To me!”
The man went silent for a moment.
- “Mama. Just killed a man. Put the crossbow against his head, pulled the trigger, now he's dead. Mama, life had just begun, but now I’ve gone and thrown it all away. Mama… I… I didn’t mean to make you cry! If I am not back again this time tomorrow…”
- “Kid! Just get out with hands up!”
- “Too late. My time has come. It sends shiver down my spine. Body’s aching all the time. Goodbye, everybody. I’ve got to go. Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth! I… I don’t want to die! I sometimes wish I’d never been born at all!”
He moved again, and he flashed for a moment in the window, this time it was noticed by the city guards.
- “I see a little silhouette of a man!” one of the guards yelled
- “Scaramouche, scaramouche! Will you do the fandango!” another one decided to mock the attacker again hitting the sword with his shield creating a loud sound that resonated across the street.
- “Thunderbolts! And lightening. So very, very frightening me!”
- “Where is Galileo?” female Captain of the guards called for a specific soldier
- “Galileo?!”
- “Galileo?”
- “Galileo?”
- “Galileo?!” guards were yelling after one another
- “Reporting for duty.”
A huge man, over two meters tall came to his commander. He was carrying a tower shield as big as himself. The light crossbows stood no chance against this beast
- “Galileo Figaro.” Woman looked at him with pride, that such a person was serving under her “… Magnifico!”
- “I’M JUST A POOR BOY! AND NOBODY LOVES ME!” man would eventually lost his cold blood and yell from the shop
- “He is just a poor boy! From a poor family!” some elder lady took his side trying to convince the guards to go easy on him “… spare his life from this monstrosity!”
- “Easy come… easy go…” voice of the attacker calmed down again. “… will you let me go?”
- “BISMILLAH!” the Captain of guard seem to be offended by very idea of releasing the burglar
- “No! We will not let you go!” another guard would cry
- “Let him go!” somebody else from the crowd would yell
- “BISMILLAH!”
- “We will not let you go!”
- “Let him go!”
- “BISMILLAH!”
- “We will not let you go!”
- “LET HIM GO!
- “Oh, mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go!...” the Man was almost crying “Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me. For me. FOR ME!”
He got up from the floor and kicked the door open standing with small crossbows in each of his hands.
- “SO YOU THINK YOU CAN STONE ME AND SPIT IN MY EYE!?” he started shooting, his accuracy was low, but the tempest of arrows that he unleashed was enough to force warriors to hide behind crates.
- “Oh, baby, can’t do this to me baby! You just gotta get out… just gotta get right outta here!
Yet one of the guard would leave his cover and shoot with crossbow of his own. The bolt flew and pierced the man belly. He felt on the ground bleeding heavily. He dropped his weapons, put his hand to his wound checking how quickly he was losing blood.
Very quickly.
- “Oh… Oh yeah. Ooh yeah. Nothing really matters…. Anyone can see… Nothing really matters to me.”
Then he lost conscious.
What the fuck did I just witness?
(Editor's note: that was amazing and everyone should have enjoyed it. If you did not. Take a long shower and think about what's wrong with you)